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A note on timing: we stayed at DLUX in 2022, so while our experience was genuine, prices and conditions may have shifted since. We'd always recommend checking current reviews before you book.

Most digital nomads landing in Phuket for the first time head straight for the well-worn trail: Rawai for the nomad scene, Patong for the nightlife, Phuket Town for the culture. Chalong doesn't tend to feature in that first conversation. It's quieter, more residential, and doesn't have a lot going on by Phuket standards — which, it turns out, is exactly what made it a surprisingly good base for a month of actual work.

DLUX Condominium was our first home in Phuket. It's not the flashiest place on the island, and we'll get to that, but for a couple of nomads who needed to get their heads down, it worked well. Here's our full take.

Quick Facts: DLUX Condominium

Location: Chalong, Phuket, Thailand
Accommodation type: Self-contained apartments
Best for: Couples, nomads on a budget who still want their own space
Wifi: Fast and reliable
Workspace: Table in-unit (works as a desk)
Monthly rent (2022): ~$530 USD via Airbnb
Highlight: A proper one-bedroom apartment at a price point where most places offer only studios

The Location: Central If You Have a Bike

Chalong sits roughly in the middle of the island, which sounds ideal until you realise that nothing in Phuket is really walkable. From DLUX, you're 10 to 15 minutes by scooter from Kata, Karon, Rawai, Nai Harn, and Phuket Town. That central position genuinely opens up the whole island.

The caveat is that you do need transport to access any of it. If you're planning to get around by taxi, costs add up fast — Phuket taxis are notoriously expensive. Grab and Bolt help, but scooter hire is really the way to go. If you're not comfortable on a bike, factor that into your decision. (And if you're planning to rent a scooter, remember that you should have an international driver’s licence that’s valid for a motorcycle.)

One thing that is walkable: a large, well-stocked supermarket a short distance from the building. It skews Western, so prices are higher than local markets, but it's genuinely convenient for stocking the kitchen. There's also a Monday night street food market within walking distance — cheap, good, and a reason to leave the laptop behind for an evening.

If you're in Phuket specifically to dive, DLUX puts you within walking distance of Chalong Pier. For everyone else, you'll need that bike.

Working From DLUX: Better Than Expected

For a building that doesn't market itself specifically at nomads, DLUX holds up well as a place to work. The wifi was fast and reliable throughout our stay — no dropouts, no painful upload speeds, no moments of frantically tethering to mobile data before a call. For a month-long stay where we were working full days, that matters more than almost anything else.

The room doesn't have a dedicated desk, but there's a table that functions as one well enough. It's not an ergonomic setup, but combined with a decent chair it was workable for full days. If you're particular about your workspace, bring a laptop stand.

The bigger win for nomad couples is the layout. DLUX offers proper one-bedroom apartments — not studios — which is rarer than you'd think at this price point. When one of us had early morning calls and the other needed quiet for deep work in the evenings, being able to close a door made a genuine difference. If you're travelling with a partner who keeps different hours, that separation is worth paying attention to when you're comparing accommodation options.

The Apartment and Facilities

The apartment itself is clean and functional. The view from our seventh-floor room looks out toward the Big Buddha, which is a genuinely lovely thing to glance up at from your desk.

The building has a rooftop pool, a gym, and a communal garden area. The pool looks great in photos — and it is a nice pool — but at least half the sun loungers were too worn to use comfortably when we were there. There's also no shade, which in Phuket's heat means you're mostly avoiding the pool during the middle of the day anyway. It's better as a morning or evening option.

The gym is small and basic: two treadmills, some free weights, and a window with a view of the ocean. It's enough if you just want to maintain a routine, but don't expect much beyond that.

The building is showing its age a little. A few missing tiles in the corridor, sun loungers that needed replacing — nothing that affected our stay but it feels like maintenance isn't a priority. It's clean and safe, just not polished.

One genuine perk: both weekly cleaning and utilities (power and water) were included in what we paid, which simplifies the monthly accounting considerably.

The Community: An Unexpected Highlight

Chalong attracts a different crowd than the more tourist-facing parts of Phuket. At DLUX, we found ourselves among long-termers — people building a life in Thailand rather than passing through. That made for more interesting conversations and more genuine connections than we'd had in more transient accommodations. We got to know residents in a way that just doesn't happen when everyone's on a two-week holiday.

It's worth mentioning if you're looking for community as part of your nomad experience. DLUX doesn't have co-working events or organised socials — for that, you'd want somewhere like HOMA in Phuket Town, where we stayed the following month — but the slower pace of Chalong creates its own kind of connection.

What We Paid

We booked through Airbnb and paid around $530 USD per month. A longer booking (three months upfront) would likely have brought that down. For a one-bedroom apartment with reliable wifi, utilities included, a pool, and a central location on the island, we thought it was fair value for Phuket.

These are 2022 figures. Prices in Phuket have moved since then, so treat this as a rough reference point rather than a current quote.

Who Is DLUX Best For?

DLUX works well if you're a couple working remotely who want a proper one-bedroom apartment without paying resort prices, a nomad who values reliable internet over polished amenities, someone staying a month or more and wanting a quieter, more residential base, or a diver, since the proximity to Chalong Pier is genuinely useful.

It's less suited to nomads who need a dedicated desk setup, anyone who wants walkable nightlife or restaurants, or solo travellers who'd rather be somewhere with more built-in community infrastructure.

How to Book

DLUX is listed on Airbnb — worth checking for current availability and pricing. Longer stays typically attract a discount, so it's worth reaching out directly or booking a longer window if you're planning a month or more.

Check Availability Now →

Final Verdict

DLUX won't make anyone's list of Phuket's most beautiful or best-equipped accommodation. But it's honest value: reliable wifi, a real one-bedroom layout, a convenient central location, and a quiet residential neighbourhood that's better suited to actually getting work done than many flashier alternatives. We left for HOMA wanting more community and co-working infrastructure — but we look back on our month at DLUX as a solid, unflashy start to four months in Thailand.

If you want somewhere to land, set up properly, and get into a rhythm, it's worth considering.

Enjoyed this review? Save it for later or share it with someone planning a stay in Phuket. And if you have questions about Chalong or finding accommodation in Thailand, feel free to reach out — we're happy to help.